Elastic temple rolls for looms and the like



3 9 F. c. WASHBURN 2,768,651

ELASTIC TEMPLE ROLLS FOR LOOMS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 18, 1954 fizz/071207 Fredeirz a C Way/2511772 5y WWZQWM W fliziya United States Patent Otfice 2,768,651 Patented Oct. 30, 1956 ELASTIC TEMPLE ROLLS FOR LOOMS AND THE LIKE Frederick C. Washburn, New Bedford, Mass.

Application January 18, 1954, Serial No. 404,526

7 Claims. (Cl. 139-296) Heretofore many kinds of temple rolls have been used to restrain weft-wise contraction of cloth as it is drawn from the weaving line of a loom under tension, but they have all had serious disadvantages. If the surface of the rolls is too soft they wear rapidly and if it is too hard they fail to grip the cloth tight enough to restrain the weft-wise contraction of the cloth. It has been proposed to provide the rolls with teeth but such rolls tend to damage the cloth.

Objects of the present invention are to provide a temple roll which is simple and economical in construction, which grips the cloth firmly at all times, which does not damage the cloth and which is durable and reliable in use.

According to the present invention the roll comprises elastic material which has a generally cylindrical clothgripping periphery, which is compressible axially of the roll and which expands radially as it is compressed axially so that the grip on the cloth automatically increases as the pull of the cloth increases axially of the roll. The roll also has means for rotatably supporting it so that it is free to contract axially in response to the aforesaid pull. While the supporting means may be merely a bore extending axially through the roll it preferably includes a core of some kind. In the preferred embodiment the core comprises an open helical spring, that is a helical spring in which the turns are spaced apart, or other means which is axially compressible. However the core may be solid if the surrounding elastic cylinder is free to move lengthwise of the core, as forexample by anchoring the cylinder to the core only at one end, allowing the other end to move axially relatively to the core.

For the purpose of illustration typical embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an end view of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are side elevations of modified rolls with parts in section; and

Figs. 6 to 8 are axial sections of other modifications.

The particular embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 comprises a frame including upper parts 1 and 2 and a lower part 3 secured together by machine screws. Journaled in the part 1 are temple rolls which pinch the margin of the cloth against the bottom part 3. The rolls are mounted on shafts 4 which have threaded heads to hold them in position.

The particular roll construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 comprises a cylinder 5 of elastic material, preferably rubber, which can be compressed axially and which expands radially when it is axially compressed. Inside the cylinder is a helical spring 6 which preferably engages the inner surface of the cylinder throughout the entire length and circumference of the roll. The rubber cylinder is preferably made separately in the form of a tube and then slipped over the helical spring. As shown in Fig. 2

the last few turns of the spring at each end of the roll are preferably closed, that is they contact with each other in the normal condition of the spring, to afford better support for the cylinder at the ends. The internal diameter of the spring may be only slightly greater than the diameter of the shaft 4 so as to fit snugly around the shaft while turning freely thereon but in Figs. 1 to 3 it is shown considerably larger, plugs 7 and 8 being provided at the ends to center the parts.

The modification shown in Fig. 4 is like the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 except that the last turn 9 of the spring at one or both ends of the roll is slightly larger in diameter to hold the cylinder on the spring and to bear on plugs 7 and 8 or, if no plugs are used, to bear on the frame 1.

In Fig. 5 a similar result is attained by fitting over the end of the spring a cap 10, the internal diameter of the cap being slightly less than that of the spring so'that the resiliency of the spring holds the cap in place.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 the spring 6 is replaced by a core 11 which is resilient but less compressible than the outer cylinder 5. For example it may be made of rubber somewhat harder than that employed in making the cylinder 5. Thus, like the spring 6, the core 11 adds to the stiifness of the roll while permitting lengthwise compression.

In Fig. 7 the core 12 may be formed of wood or other relatively non-compressible material, the rubber cylinder 5 being anchored to the core only at the left-hand end and the cylinder being tapered to leave a clearance 13 between the cylinder and core throughout most of the length of the roll so that the loose part of the cylinder can move lengthwise of the core in response to the pull of the cloth axially of the roll.

The modification shown in Fig. 8 is like that of Fig. 7 except in that the outer periphery of the core 14 is tapered instead of tapering the inner periphery of the cylinder 5. In each of these two embodiments it will be understood of course that the loose end of the cylinder 5 should be located at the selvage edge of the cloth. Thus when using the rolls in an arrangement such as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the right-hand ends of the rolls should be located at the right-hand side of Fig. 2.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the pull of the cloth lengthwise of the rolls (to the left in Fig. 2) tends to compress the rolls axially and that this causes the rolls to grip the cloth more firmly because they expand radially in response to the axial compression. Thus the cloth is held in position without danger of damage. It will also be understood that the rolls are not only simple and economical in construction but are very durable and reliable in use.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A temple roll comprising an elongate cylinder of elastic material which has a cloth-gripping periphery, which is compressible axially of the roll and which expands radially as it is compressed axially, and means inside the cylinder for rotatably supporting the roll so that it is free to contract axially in response to the frictional pull of the cloth axially of the roll, whereby the grip on the cloth automatically increases as the pull increases.

2. A temple roll comprising an elongate hollow cylinder of elastic material which is compressible axially of the roll and which expands radially as it is compressed axially, and means engaging the inner surface of the cylinder for supporting the cylinder so that it is free to contract axially in response to the frictional pull of the cloth axially of the roll, whereby the grip on the cloth increasesas the pull increases.

3. A temple roll comprising a cylinder of elastic material which is compressible axially of the roll and which expands radially as it is compressed axially, and a compressible core engaging the inner surface of the cylinder for supporting the cylinder so that it is free to contract axially in response to the frictional pull of the cloth axially of the roll, whereby the grip on the cloth automatically increases as the pull increases.

4. A temple roll comprising a cylinder of elastic material which is compressible axially of the roll and which expands radially as it is compressed axially, and an open helical spring engaging the inner surface of the cylinder for supporting the cylinder so that it is free to contract axially in response to the frictional pull of the cloth axially of the roll, whereby the grip on the cloth automatically increases as the pull increases.

5. A temple roll comprising a cylinder of elastic material which is compressible axially of the roll and which expands radially as it is compressed axially, and a tubular core having its outer surface engaging the inner surface of the cylinder, said surfaces being anchored together at one end of the roll and relatively movable at the other end of the roll so that the cylinder is free to contract axially and expand radially in response to the frictional pull of the cloth axially of the roll.

6. A temple roll comprising a cylinder of elastic material which is compressible axially of the roll and which expands radially as it is compressed axially, and a tubular core having its outer surface engaging the inner surface of the cylinder, one of said surfaces being tapered so that they are anchored together only at one end of the roll, whereby the cylinder is free to contract axially and expand radially in response to the frictional pull of the cloth axially of the roll.

7. A temple roll comprising an elongate cylinder of elastic material which has a cloth-gripping periphery, which is compressible axially of the roll and which expands radially as it is compressed axially, and supporting means which is confined substantially to the interior of the cylinder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,185,542 Roberts May 30, 1916 2,079,049 St. Clair May 4, 1937 2,140,448 Brown Dec. 13, 1938 2,428,101 Splawn Sent. 30, 1947 

